I just watched Rutherford's boundaries on the vault. He had already scored a hundred before he hit a 4 off anyone other than Verma or Arnel. Bizarre. And his boundaries weRe looking really classy until I'd guess about the 80 run mark and started to edge a lot of 4s through slip and gully. Starting again the second day?

I also watched the first 30 or 40 balls straight to see again how solid he is, or isn't, early in his innings. Cover drove his first ball for 4, had a very close LBW 3rd ball, but then on was solid.

BTW, anyone know who will open next few games when he is away? Bracewell elevated up the order? Or the older Duffy?

First ball hooked for 4, second ball attempted cbf Ryder pull from a metre outside off which he toe-ended through gully (off Soper). Then Duffy smacks him in his guts the next 2 balls, before he gets a leg bye 4 and starts to settle down. Until Butler and Wells come on, edged Butler twice, Wells got close to trapping him 2 other times until he finally achieved just that.

32 runs off 40 balls.

I've been an advocate of Flynn opening. But Is this a guy who wants to open because he sees an opportunity, or a guy told to open. I'm sure even Mark Richardson could bat a little like Gordon Greenidge at domestic level if wanted to, but what's the point? Yes, we know you're not so dour at do domestic level, but do you ****ing want this or not?

I hope the umpires, and their boss also use the video vault. Some pretty dodgy LBWs I notice in Plunket Shield -which to an eye used to watching televised cricket where decisions are scrutinized by DRS etc just don't look right. International imprinting improved/adjusted pretty quickly once new technology allowed/made them to adjust to the 'new reality' of what hawyeye etc said was and wasn't out.

No dissent though, apart from batsmen taking a good while to leave the crease.

Looks to me like Sodhi got two with his wrong-un this match. Craig bowledin first innings (I was expecting another lefty bowled through the gate from out of the rough), but hard to pick up from camera angle. Then Rutherford stumped in second innings.

I'll just continue talking to myself, while you girls squabble like a pack of hyenas over Anton Devcich's still very alive carcass.

I watched Carl Cachopa's short first Innings v Auckland, and he actually ducked a good Chris Martin bouncer!

I can't be arsed going through his second innings as he is starting against spinners ...

I also watched a week or so ago one of his innings in the first post-Xmas Plunket Shield match v Canterbury just to see how he would handle the bouncer. But despite Ellis playing, no one tested him. Only one bouncer, from McCone, which had him going into what looked like a brace-and-take it position to me, but ended up being a good foot down legside.

I also watched a week or so ago one of his innings in the first post-Xmas Plunket Shield match v Canterbury just to see how he would handle the bouncer. But despite Ellis playing, no one tested him. Only one bouncer, from McCone, which had him going into what looked like a brace-and-take it position to me, but ended up being a good foot down legside.

Yep the tactical side of the Shield is what you'd expect when the lead actors are getting $60k I guess. Plus the fact it's just not the done thing these days, to try and play tennis like Hingis rather than Serena, if you get what I mean.

You see it in the way they just keep feeding Rutherford's strength, his point through cover scoring zone is so monotonous. If no-one in the comp except Wells can get the red ball to swing, bowl around the wicket to him, let's see him squeeze a back of a length delivery off a fourth stump line then. The way he tries to back away to spinners to get it through that zone is such an opening to exploit, and yet Sodhi spends a good amount of time bowling over the wicket to him instead. Kippax isn't old himself, but it really is that 'got my mp3 player going, in my own little world' stuff tbh.

Last edited by Kippax; 04-02-2013 at 01:41 AM.

Don't squander the gold of your days making a shrine of cricket videos, trying to improve the hopeless failure, giving your life away to the Blockys, the Devciches and the Weerasundaras! Surrender your devout little cricketing heart to the inured agribusinessman.

First ball hooked for 4, second ball attempted cbf Ryder pull from a metre outside off which he toe-ended through gully (off Soper). Then Duffy smacks him in his guts the next 2 balls, before he gets a leg bye 4 and starts to settle down. Until Butler and Wells come on, edged Butler twice, Wells got close to trapping him 2 other times until he finally achieved just that.

32 runs off 40 balls.

I've been an advocate of Flynn opening. But Is this a guy who wants to open because he sees an opportunity, or a guy told to open. I'm sure even Mark Richardson could bat a little like Gordon Greenidge at domestic level if wanted to, but what's the point? Yes, we know you're not so dour at do domestic level, but do you ****ing want this or not?

Good post. I've been advocating Flynn open for NZ too, however his deciding that he wants to be a dasher does not fill me with joy or confidence.